Apparatus for handling a sheet of separator material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for disposing a sheet adjacent a flexible member. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for transporting the sheet to a loading position and a mechanism, located adjacent the loading position, for receiving and holding the sheet. The receiving and holding mechanism is capable of moving the sheet into juxtaposition with a surface of the flexible member so that the sheet contacts the surface of the flexible member upon being released by the receiving and holding mechanism. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for wrapping the flexible member about itself with the sheet interposed between opposed surfaces of the flexible member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/724,307, filed Jul. 1, 1991 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND MATERIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a technique for handling asheet, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for disposingthe sheet adjacent a surface of a flexible member and wrapping theflexible member about itself with the sheet interposed between opposedsurfaces of the flexible member.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the art of electrophotography an electrophotographic plate comprisinga photoconductive insulating layer on a conductive layer is imaged byfirst uniformly electrostatically charging the imaging surface of thephotoconductive insulating layer. The plate is then exposed to a patternof activating electromagnetic radiation such as light, which selectivelydissipates the charge in the illuminated areas of the photoconductiveinsulating layer while leaving behind an electrostatic latent image inthe non-illuminated area. This electrostatic latent image may then bedeveloped to form a visible image by depositing finely dividedelectroscopic toner particles on the surface of the photoconductiveinsulating layer. The resulting visible toner image can be transferredto a suitable receiving member such as paper. This imaging process maybe repeated many times with reusable photoconductive insulating layers.

The electrophotographic plate may be in the form of a flexiblephotoreceptor belt. These flexible belts include a substrate and asensitive layer, the sensitive layer including an electricallyconductive surface and at least one photoconductive layer. A commonflexible photoreceptor belt comprises a substrate, a conductive layer,an optional hole blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a chargegenerating layer, a charge transport layer and, in some embodiments, ananti-curl backing layer.

These photoreceptor belts are usually thin and flimsy. Any considerableamount of handling of the belt, through, for example, shipping, canresult in damage to the sensitive layer. Scratches, dents and otherforms of damage to the sensitive layer, resulting from handling, canlead to degradation in image quality in printed material produced by theprinting machine. Additionally, handling of the belt is made moredifficult when the belt is in an unraveled state.

A technique for wrapping an elongate flexible loop with a sheet ofprotective paper is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,265 to Darcy etal., the relevant portions of which are incorporated herein byreference. As indicated in the Wrapping Application, an elongateflexible loop or photoreceptor belt is packaged by wrapping it tightlyabout itself. Under normal circumstances, with many types of belts, thetight packaging is desirable; however, at least one situation can arisein which the tight wrapping can be quite undesirable. In particular, dueto their relatively low thermal coefficient of expansion, belts used onthe Xerox Copier 1065 exposed to temperatures in excess of ambientlevels, tend to expand readily. When one of these belts is wrappedtightly, and subsequently heated, it has "nowhere to go", so that shearforces between belt substrate portions can increase beyond manageablelevels. The inability to compensate for these unmanageable levels ofshear forces can cause distortion throughout the sensitive layer of thebelt in the form of "dimpling." Use of a dimpled belt will inevitablyresult in unacceptable copy quality. Hence it would be desirable toprovide a technique that would minimize shear forces under theabove-mentioned conditions and thereby eliminate dimpling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an improved apparatus isprovided for disposing a sheet adjacent a flexible member. The apparatuscomprises means for transporting the sheet to a loading position andmeans, located adjacent the loading position, for receiving and holdingthe sheet. The receiving and holding means are capable of moving thesheet into juxtaposition with a surface of the flexible member so thatthe sheet contacts the surface of the flexible member upon beingreleased by the receiving and holding means. The apparatus furthercomprises means for wrapping the flexible member about itself with thesheet interposed between opposed surfaces of the flexible member.

In one aspect of the invention, the flexible member can be an elongateflexible loop, and the wrapping means can include means for supportinginternal portions of the elongate flexible loop. Additionally, theapparatus preferably comprises means for supplying a length of separatormaterial, the supplying means being adapted to deliver a free edge ofthe separator material to a location adjacent the transport means. Thetransport means can include a carriage for transporting the length ofseparator material in a direction substantially parallel to a long axisof the flexible member. Finally, the apparatus can include means fordriving automatically the receiving and holding means from a locationspaced from the flexible member to a location adjacent the flexiblemember.

In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus further comprisesmeans, positioned in the path of conveyance of the receiving and holdingmeans, for applying a charge to the sheet as it is passed therethrough.In one example, the charge-applying means is a corotron.

Numerous features will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

One feature of the present invention is that it minimizes labor costs.That is, the apparatus is adapted to quickly perform steps that wouldnormally occupy a human user for a considerable time interval.Consequently, the apparatus frees up the user to perform tasks otherthan manual paper handling tasks.

Another feature of the present invention is that each sheet of separatormaterial can be formed with the greatest degree of precision andefficiency. In particular, sheets of exact specification can be cutautomatically from a supply of separator paper as many times as desired.Moreover, in one embodiment the sheet is transported to a locationadjacent the flexible member, and cut to specification, in less thanthirty seconds.

Another feature of the present invention is that it optimizes theprocess of entraining the sheet of separator material with the flexiblemember. For example, as the sheet is moved toward the flexible member,the sheet can be pulled through the charge-applying means so that thesheet, which accordingly clings to the surface of the flexible member,can be more uniformly entrained with the flexible member.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description, the description being used to illustrate apreferred embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a floor plan of an apparatus for wrappingprotective paper about a sensitive surface of a flexible image loop;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, elevational view of an assembly for selectivelyloading cores onto a transport device, and transporting the cores to abelt wrapping assembly;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, overhead plan view of the assemblies illustratedin FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, sectional view of an arrangement used to drive atypical air cylinder used in the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, elevational view of a protective paper feedingassembly coupled with the belt wrapping assembly;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, elevational view of two fingers operativelymounted to a Turret;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a taping assembly schematically illustrated inFIG. 5;

FIGS. 8A-8C are timing diagrams depicting time intervals taken toperform major steps in the belt wrapping process;

FIGS. 9A-9E are schematic, fragmentary, elevational views of theapparatus depicting the process employed to wrap a tail portion of asheet of protective paper about three cores;

FIGS. 10A-10B are perspective views of a photoreceptive belt wrappedabout the three cores by the apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a schematic, elevational view of an assembly for feedingtissue paper to a tissue paper transporting assembly;

FIG. 12 is a schematic, overhead plan view of the tissue papertransporting assembly; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic, side view of the tissue paper transportingassembly.

FIGS. 14A-14C are schematic, fragmentary, elevational views of theapparatus depicting the process employed to entrain the loop, sheet ofprotective paper and sheet of tissue paper about the three cores.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connectionwith a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it isnot intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary,it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalentsas may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a floor-plan of an apparatus for automaticallywrapping protective paper about a flexible image loop 10 is designatedby the numeral 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible imageloop is a photoreceptor belt having a length and a width. The apparatus12 includes a core transport assembly 14, a wrapping assembly 16 and aprotective paper feed assembly 18.

Referring to FIG. 2, the core transport assembly 14 is illustrated infurther detail. The transport assembly 14 includes a movable cart 20,the cart having a receiving bin 22 mounted thereto and being incommunication with a loading station 23. The loading station 23 includesa hopper 26 and a chute 28, the hopper 26 being adapted to store aplurality of cores or cardboard tubes 30. The cores 30 are transportedto the chute 28 by way of a conveyor mechanism 32. The conveyormechanism 32 comprises an endless chain 34 wrapped around sprockets 36,the chain 34 having spaced-apart paddle-wheels 38 affixed thereto. Thesprockets 36 are driven by a conventional motor arrangement 40.

The motor of motor arrangement 40, as well as all motors referred tohereinafter, are controlled by way of a conventional drive mechanism 42interfaced with a programmable controller or a microprocessor 44, suchmicroprocessor 44 being obtainable from Motorola Corporation (via the68000 series). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the controller 44 includes palmbuttons 45 for starting and stopping the apparatus 12. Additionally, asafety mat 46, which serves as a "deadman's switch" for the apparatus 12is positioned next to the palm buttons 45. When the operator is standingon the mat 46, the apparatus 12 is maintained in an inoperative state.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paddle-wheels 38 are capable ofraising the cores 30 out of the hopper 26 to the chute 28. The chute 28is supported by a frame 48 having supports 50, 52, while the chute 28 isinclined so that cores 30 can roll freely down to the cart 20. Referringspecifically to FIG. 3, the chute 28 has ledges 54 for retaining thecores 30 therein, and the chute 28 is adjustable laterally toaccommodate for cores 30 of varying lengths. As the cores 30 roll downthe chute 28, they are selectively retained by a capturing mechanism 56.In one example, the capturing mechanism 56 comprises two pairs ofsubmechanisms 58, each of which submechanism 58 is operatively mountedto the support 52. The front pair of submechanisms 58 will hereinafterbe referred to as core stop 59, while the rear pair of submechanisms 58will be referred to as core separator 61. Each submechanism 58 has aretractable needle 60 connected to an air cylinder 62. The spacingbetween the core stop 59 and the core separator 61 is such that apredetermined number of cores 30 can be retained between the needles 60when the needles 60 are in the extended position. The needles 60 areextended and retracted by use of the air cylinders 62.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, an arrangement employed to drive aircylinder 62, as well as most of the air cylinders used throughout theapparatus 12, is designated by the numeral 63. The arrangement 63includes a supply of compressed air (not shown), a bidirectional valve64 and the microprocessor 44. In the preferred embodiment, the valve 64,which can be obtained from Norgren Corporation, shifts air directionaccording to whether the valve 64 is positively or negatively biased bythe microprocessor 44. Additionally, when the piston of cylinder 62 ismagnetic, the extent of movement of the air cylinder 62 can be sensed byuse of conventional limit switches 65.

The cart 20 is operatively associated with a shuttling mechanism 66(FIGS. 2 and 3), the shuttling mechanism 66 including a drive mechanism68 and a transport table 70. The drive mechanism 68 comprises adual-position air cylinder 72 for driving the table 70 in a firstdirection, and a cylinder 74 for driving the cart 20 in a seconddirection, the second direction being transverse to the first direction.As best illustrated in FIG. 2, a dual position cylinder comprises twocylinders in series, both of which function cooperatively to positionthe cart 20 in two distinct positions, namely a core-loading positionand an unloading position. The dual-position air cylinder 72 isoperatively mounted to the frame 48, while the second cylinder 74 isinterconnected with the table 70. In particular, the transport table 70is supported by portions of the dual-position air cylinder 72, and thecart 20 is slideably mounted on the transport table 70 by way of a pairof guide rails 78 formed thereon. Accordingly, the cart 20 can bedriven, along the second direction, from one end of the table to theother by use of the second cylinder 74.

In one example, a platform 82 (FIG. 2), having a raised edge, ispositioned on the cart 20 adjacent the receiving bin 22. A cam follower84 is mounted on the underside of the platform 82, the cam follower 84being adapted to cooperate with a cam 86 mounted on the underside of thechute 28. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, when an edge of the cart isbrought proximate to the support 52, the cam follower 84 rides along thecam 86 so that the platform 82 directly underlies the exit edge of thechute 28. As the cart 20 is moved away from the chute 28, the platform82, having a preselected number of the cores 30 disposed thereon, pivotsdown onto the cart 20 so that the raised edge of the platform 82 abuts araised edge of the receiving bin 22.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, three cores 30 are shuttled at a time to awrapping station designated by the numeral 92. The wrapping station 92comprises the wrapping assembly 16 and the protective paper feedingassembly 18. The wrapping assembly 16 includes a first finger 100, asecond finger 102 and a third finger 104, each of which fingers 100,102, and 104 is disposed along a common plane 106. Referringspecifically to FIG. 6, the fingers 100, 102 are operatively mounted toa turret mechanism 108, the turret mechanism 108 including a shaft 110rotatably mounted in a collar 112 with bearings 114. The shaft 110 isoperatively connected to the motor arrangement 40 so that the fingers100 and 102 can be rotated simultaneously about an axis 118 in responseto the rotation of the shaft 110. Additionally, the turret mechanism 108is mounted to a support plate 120 by way of the collar 112 and fasteners122. In one example, the support plate 120 is a one inch thick jigplate.

Referring still to FIG. 6, the second finger 102 is pivotally mounted tothe turret mechanism 108 so that the second finger 102 can beselectively displaced relative to the first finger 100 to form a gap124. Displacement is achieved automatically by use of a fingerdisplacement mechanism 126. The finger displacement mechanism 126includes a movable displacement member 128, the movable displacementmember 128 being responsive to the displacement of a "pancake" aircylinder 130.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the third finger 104 is connected to a block136, the block 136 being slideable mounted on a guide 138. The followersupport 138 is operatively connected to the support plate 120. Theslideable block 136 is urged away from the fingers 100 and 102 by anarrangement including a cable 140 and a counterweight 142. One end ofthe cable 140 is integrally connected to the slideable block 136 and theother end to the counterweight 142. The cable rides over a pulley 144and the counterweight 142 is displaced within a channel 146. A plunger148 is mounted to and extends from the block 136, so that the plunger148 interacts cooperatively with an adjustable deceleration damper 150to set the finger 104 at an extended position with respect to thefingers 100 and 102.

The third finger can be positioned proximate to the second finger 102 byemployment of the finger biasing mechanism 154. The biasing mechanism154 includes a ratchet member 156 defining a set of integral teeth. Theteeth cooperate with a latch 160, the movement of the latch 160 beingcontrolled selectively by a solenoid 162. In a first state the solenoid162 allows the latch 160 to drop into the teeth to hold the finger 104proximate to the second finger 102, while in a second state, the latch160 is released so that the third finger 104 is urged, by the slidingblock 136, toward the deceleration damper 150. When the plunger 148engages the damper 150, the third finger 104 is disposed in the extendedposition. As can be appreciated by reference to FIG. 5, if the belt 10is positioned about the fingers 102 and 104, the belt 10 will bedisposed in an extended position when the third finger 104 is disposedcorrespondingly in the extended position.

In the preferred embodiment, protective paper is fed into the gap 124 bythe protective paper feed assembly 18. The feeding assembly 18 includesa protective paper supply 164 and a protective paper transport mechanism166. The paper supply 164 includes a shaft 168, the shaft 168 beingmounted to the support plate 120 and adapted to support a supply or roll170 of protective paper. In one example, the protective paper is blackphoto wrap and has a width at least as great as the width of thephotoreceptive belt 10 to be wrapped. The transport mechanism 166includes idler or tension rollers 174 that serve to guide the protectivepaper to a "dancer" roller mechanism 178. Essentially, the mechanism 178allows substantial lengths of protective paper to be pulled off of theroll 170 so that inertia of the roll 170 will not impair the wrappingprocess.

The dancer roller mechanism 178 includes a carriage 180 having a roller182 mounted thereto. The carriage 180 is positioned on a guide 184, andis responsive to a "rodless cylinder" arrangement 186 manufactured byFesto Corporation of Hauppauge, N.Y. The rodless cylinder arrangement186 comprises a saddle 188, which saddle 188 is coupled with thecarriage 180. The saddle 188 is slideable mounted on a rod 190, andmoves in response to an air-driven magnetic piston (not shown) disposedin the rod 190. In the illustrated embodiment the extent of movement ofthe saddle 188 can be sensed by way of limit switches 194. A descriptionof the rodless cylinder arrangement 186 can be found in U.S. Pat. No.4,878,985, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any suitable drivemechanism capable of reciprocating the carriage 180 may be used in placeof the magnetic reciprocating drive system 186. Moreover, it will alsobe appreciated that the rodless cylinder arrangement 186 is verysimilar, in concept, to the drive arrangement 63.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, the protective paper is pulledthrough the dancer mechanism 178 by way a nip roller mechanism 196. Anidler 198 aids in guiding the protective paper to the mechanism 196. Themechanism 196 includes a nip roller 202 in selective contact with adrive roller 204 to define a nip 206. The drive roller 204 is driven bythe motor arrangement 40. The nip roller 202 is operatively connected toa pivotable arm 208, the pivotable arm 208 being in contact with apancake cylinder 212. When the cylinder 212 is energized, the nip roller202 is displaced relative to the drive roller 204 so that the nip 206 isdisengaged. An encoder 214, of any suitable construction, is operativelyassociated with the nip roller mechanism 196, and is positioned adjacentthe path of the protective paper. As is known, the encoder 214, inconjunction with the controller 44, is capable of determining the lengthof protective paper that passes by the mechanism 196 in a predeterminedtime period. Accordingly, under ideal operation, the controller 44 isinformed as to the moment that the leading edge of the protective paperpasses through the gap 124.

The protective paper is directed from the exit of mechanism 196, to thegap 124, by way a paper guide network 216, the guide network 216including an adjustable guide 218 as well as a fixed set of baffles 220and a movable set of baffles 222. The leading edge of the protectivepaper is further directed into the gap 124 by means of guide cylinders224. Each of guide cylinders 224 has a guide needle 226, thedisplacement of which is effected by the controller 44.

While, under ideal operating conditions, the encoder 214 can be employedto detect when the leading edge of the protective paper has passedthrough the gap 124, the encoder 214 cannot accurately accomplish thisdetection on a regular basis. For example, even when the protectivepaper "strays" from the network 214, the encoder 214 will indicate thatthe leading edge is through the gap 124 since the encoder 214 merelydetects the length of protective paper that has passed by. To verifyinformation from the encoder 214, a secondary detection system, namely aphoto-detecting arrangement, is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a light transmitting/photo-detecting unit 228,which communicates with the controller 44, is mounted on the supportplate 120 at a location spaced from the gap 124. A reflector 229 ispositioned proximate to the gap 124 so that light transmitted from theunit 228 can be reflected back to a photoreceptive device (not shown)disposed in the unit 228. When the light beam is broken by the leadingedge of the protective paper passing through the gap 124, thecorresponding signal can be transmitted to the controller 44, via thetransmitting/photo-detecting unit 228, to indicate the presence of theprotective paper.

In one example, an upper portion of the movable baffles 222 is mountedto a cutting mechanism 230. Both of the nip roller mechanism 196 and thecutting mechanism 230 are mounted to the support plate 120 by way of aback plate 232. In particular, the cutting mechanism 230 includes aframe 234 having a slide-piece 236, while the back plate 232 has a guide238 for receiving the slide-piece 236. The slide-piece 236, and hencethe frame 234, can be displaced along the guide 238 by an arrangementincluding a pulley 240 and a cable 242. The slide-piece 236 responds tothe rotation of the pulley 240, and the slide-piece 236 is positionedselectively by a manual clamp 244. The manual clamp 244 is slideablemounted in a slot (not shown), the slot being defined in a side wall 246of the back plate 232.

The cutting mechanism 230 further includes a cutting device 250 having arotary cutting blade 252. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the blade 252 isdisposed transverse to the long axis of the protective paper. Thecutting device 250 is operatively mounted to a drive mechanism 254, andthe drive mechanism 254 is mounted to the frame 234. The drive mechanism254 can be any suitable drive, such as the rodless cylinder arrangement186. As with rodless cylinder arrangement 186, the drive mechanism 254could include a movable saddle 256, the displacement of which could beconstrained by limit switches (not shown). In its home position, thecutting device 250 is retracted so that the paper is spaced from therotary cutting blade 252. When cutting of the protective paper isdesired, the saddle 256 is displaced from the home position so that thecutting blade 252 is driven through a path that permits the cuttingdevice 250 to cut a sheet of protective paper. Since the frame 234 isadjustable, the cutting mechanism 230 is adapted to cut sheets ofvarying length.

A tailing assembly, the significance of which will be described infurther detail below, comprises a half-tailer 260 and a full-tailer 262.The half-tailer 260 includes a carriage 261 slideable mounted on a drivemechanism 264, the drive mechanism 264 being operatively mounted to thesupport plate 120. The drive mechanism 264 can comprise any suitablemechanism, such as a rodless cylinder arrangement. In the illustratedembodiment, the carriage 261 is driven along a guide 266 by a rodlesscylinder device 268. The half-tailer 260 further includes a keeper 272,which keeper 272 can be displaced pivotally for height adjustment by akeeper displacement mechanism 274. The mechanism 274 comprises an arm276, the arm 276 being pivotally connected to a pancake air cylinder 278by way of a link 280. The extent to which the arm 276 is displaced canbe sensed by way of the limit switches (not shown). When the cylinder278 is activated, the arm 276 is pivoted to raise the keeper 272 by apredetermined distance.

The full-tailer 262, which includes an air cylinder 284 operativelyconnected to an air rotary cylinder 286, is mounted operatively to thesupport plate 120. The full-tailer 262 also includes a wiper 288, whichwiper 288 rotates in response to the rotation of the rotary cylinder286. The air cylinder 284 is capable of raising the wiper 288 to alocation adjacent the cores 30, so that the wiper 288 can be positionedproximate to preselected portions of the cores 30 when the wiper 288 isrotated through a predetermined arc.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, a taping assembly is designated by thenumeral 292. The taping assembly 292 includes a carriage 294 (FIG. 5),which carriage 294 can be displaced along a guide 296. The carriage 294is reciprocated, relative to a home position, by an air cylinder 298. Inthe preferred embodiment, the guide 296 and the air cylinder 298 aremounted to the support plate 120. A taper 300 (FIG. 7) is pivotallymounted to the carriage 294 with a swivel arm 302, and the taper 300 isdriven upward by an air cylinder 304. In one example, the taper 300 is aconventional label "gun" of the type used in supermarkets for applyinglabels to inventory. As the taper 300 is driven upward by the aircylinder 304, a spring or air cylinder 306, interposed between the taper300 and the swivel arm 302, is activated so that the taper 300 isdirected through a semicircular path. This is essentially the same pathor wiping motion that would be employed in placing labels on supermarketinventory.

Referring specifically to FIG. 7, the taper 300 includes a trigger 310which, upon activation, allows tape to be dispensed from a roll ofconventional tape (not shown) disposed within the taper 300. The trigger310 is "pulled" by an air cylinder 314, which air cylinder 314communicates selectively with an air source (not shown) by way of avalve 316. In particular, the valve 316 has an actuating button 317, andthe valve 316 is mounted to the swivel arm 302. Additionally, a bracket318 mounted to the carriage 294 is disposed in the semicircular path ofthe swivel arm 302. As the taper 300 is reciprocated through thesemicircular path, the button 317 is depressed by an end portion of thebracket 318 so that the valve 316 is opened and the trigger 310 ispulled.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-3, the preferred form of operation for coreloading/core unloading is explained in further detail. Initially, aplurality of cores 30 are loaded into the hopper 26 and a stream ofcores 30 is delivered to the top of chute 28 by the conveyor mechanism32. In their home positions, the needles 60 of the core stop 59 areextended to retain the cores 30, while the needles 60 of the coreseparator 61 are retracted. To load a preselected number of cores 30,preferably three of cores 30, onto platform 82, the cart 20 is movedproximate the core stop 59 and the air cylinder 72 is then retracted. Byuse of the controller 44, the needles 60 of the core separator 61 areextended, and the needles 60 of the core stop 59 are retracted, so thatthree of cores 30 fall onto the platform 82.

Once the cores 30 are on the platform 82, the cart 20 is shuttled overto the fingers 100, 102 and 104 by extending the cylinders 72, 74. Inparticular, the first cylinder 72 is capable of aligning the cores 30with the fingers 100, 102 and 104, while the second cylinder 74 iscapable of positioning cores 30 on the fingers 100, 102 and 104. Afterpositioning the cores 30 on the fingers 100, 102 and 104, the cart 20 isretracted so that the positioned cores 30 have clearance in which torotate.

Upon initially loading the cores 30 onto the cart 20, the core loadingsteps can be achieved in accordance with the sequence illustrated inFIG. 8A. For example, before loading three of cores 30 onto therespective fingers 100, 102 and 104, the receiving bin 22 is positionedadjacent the fingers 100, 102 and 104 in an unload position so that awrapped belt, i.e. a finished product (FIG. 10B), can be unloaded fromthe wrapping assembly 16 into the bin 22. Upon unloading the finishedproduct the three cores 30 are aligned with the fingers 100, 102 and 104and the cores 30 are loaded thereon. The cart 20 is then retracted tothe exit end of the chute 28 to retrieve three more cores 30, asdescribed above.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, 8B and 9A-9E, the operation of the wrappingassembly 16 and the protective paper feed assembly 18 is explained infurther detail. Initially, the protective paper is threaded manuallythrough the dancer roller mechanism 178, the nip roller mechanism 196and the paper guide network 216. The finger displacement mechanism 126is actuated to form the gap 124, and the leading edge of the protectivepaper is positioned therein. Upon placing the belt 10 about the fingers102 and 104, the gap 124 is closed and the solenoid 164 is actuated sothat the belt 10 is urged into the extended position by the unlatchedblock 136. Additionally, the dancer roller mechanism 178 is actuated sothat a length of protective paper is pulled down.

Referring specifically to FIG. 8B, an automatic belt wrapping process isshown. The process outlined in FIG. 8B presupposes that, prior to startup, i.e. "0" seconds on the time scale, the protective paper has alreadybeen threaded through the protective paper feed assembly 18, and pulleddown by the dancer roller mechanism 178. Consequently, in the scheme ofFIG. 8B the dancer roller 182 is not be pulled down until the protectivepaper has been driven automatically, by way of nip roller mechanism 196to the gap 124, and a sheet of protective paper has been cut from theprotective paper supply.

To wrap the belt 10, the nip 206 is opened (FIGS. 5 and 8B), the guideneedles 226 are retracted, and the turret mechanism 108 is rotated aboutaxis 118 in a counter-clockwise direction. Accordingly, the third finger104 is "reeled in" and the protective paper is wrapped about asubstantial potion of the photosensitive surface of the belt 10. Whenthe third finger 104 is proximate the second finger 102 (FIG. 9A),rotation of the turret mechanism 108 is halted and a sheet of protectivepaper is formed by extending and retracting the cutting device 250 (FIG.5) across a preselected portion of the protective paper supply.

A tail portion 318 of the protective paper (FIG. 9A) is formed as aresult of the cutting step. Referring to both FIGS. 8B and 9B-9C, thecarriage 261 of the half-tailer 260 extends from its home position, sothat the keeper 272 "knocks down" the tail, and the keeper 272 descendsto partially fold the tail over. Referring to both FIGS. 8B and 9D, asthe half tailer 260 is extended, the full tailer 262 is moved up to apoint just under a plane in which the fingers 100, 102 and 104 aredisposed, and the wiper 288 is rotated so that the trailing edge of thesheet of protective paper is retained against a portion of theprotective paper that has already been wrapped about the cores 30.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8B and 9E, shortly after the wiper 288 begins torotate, the taping assembly carriage 294 is moved to a point under thecores 30 by air cylinder 298. Air cylinders 304 and 306 are activated insequence so that the taper 300 is moved upward through a semicircularpath. As the taper 300 wipes against the protective paper, the valve 316is opened, and the trigger 310 is pulled accordingly by the air cylinder314. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, a piece of tape is thereby applied tothe finished product so that the trailing edge of the protective paperis secured against the protective paper already wrapped around the cores30. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other meansbesides a taper, such as a gluing device, could be used to secure thetrailing edge. After the taping step is completed, the wrapped belt 10(FIG. 10B) can be either manually or automatically unloaded, anddeposited in receiving bin 22.

When wrapping certain photoreceptor belts, such as that photoreceptorbelt adapted for use in the Xerox Copier 1065 copier, it is desirable toentrain a sheet of separator or tissue paper 320 with the belt 10 sothat each point of the belt substrate is separated from any adjacentsubstrate point. It has been found that by entraining the sheet oftissue paper 320 with the belt 10, all portions of the belt substratehave the ability to "slip" relative to adjacent substrate portions ofthe belt 10 so that shear forces between the adjacent portions areminimized. Due to the ability of the belt 10 substrate to slip, thetendency of wrapped belt 10 to dimple, or otherwise distort when heated,is alleviated.

Referring to FIGS. 11-13, a tissue paper feed assembly 322, allowing foraccomplishment of the above-mentioned object by providing for theautomatic insertion of the sheet of tissue paper 320 into a cavity 323(FIG. 5) formed by the extended belt 10, is shown. The tissue paper feedassembly 322 (FIG. 11) includes a transport mechanism 324 and aninserting mechanism 326. The tissue paper is supplied from a tissuepaper supply 330 to a dancer roller mechanism 332 by way of an idlerroller 334. The dancer roller mechanism 332 is equivalent in structureto the dancer roller mechanism 178 described above. The tissue paper isdrawn from the dancer roller mechanism 332, across a baffle 335, by aroller mechanism 336. The roller mechanism 336 includes a roller 338,the roller 338 being operatively coupled to both a mechanicalover-running or one-way clutch (not shown) and an air cylinder 340. Inthe preferred embodiment, the roller 338 is selectively positioned incontact with the tissue paper by way of an air cylinder 342.

The leading edge of the tissue paper can be transported, by a carriage348 (FIGS. 11 and 12), from a point adjacent the second finger 102 to apoint adjacent the extended third finger 104. The carriage 348 isslideably mounted to a support strip 350 (FIG. 13) by way of rollers351, and driven by a drive mechanism 352. In one example, the drivemechanism 352 is equivalent structurally to the rodless cylinderarrangement 186, and includes a pair of limit switches 353 for sensingthe extent to which the carriage 348 is displaced. The carriage 348(FIGS. 11 and 12) is slideably mounted to a tissue paper support table354, the support table 354 being coupled to the support plate 120 by wayof support rails 355. A pair of clamping mechanisms 356 are mountedoperatively along edges of the carriage 348. Each of the clampingmechanisms 356 include a clamp 358 that can be selectively biased into aclamped position by an air cylinder 360. Referring specifically to FIG.11, the carriage 348, in its home position, is located proximate theedge of the baffle 335 so that the leading edge of tissue paper supplycan be engaged by the clamps 358 when the leading edge is disposed justbeyond the edge of the baffle 335.

Referring again to FIGS. 12 and 13, sheets of tissue paper 320 are cutfrom the tissue paper supply with a cutting mechanism 362. The cuttingmechanism 362 includes an appropriate drive mechanism 364, such as thetype used in the rodless air cylinder arrangement 186, which drivemechanism 364 includes a saddle 368 and a yoke 370. The saddle 368 isslideably, magnetically coupled to a hollow tube 372, while the yoke 370is coupled with the saddle 368. The yoke 370 serves to support both arotatable cutting disk 374 and a displacement mechanism 376. As the yoke370 is extended forward, the displacement mechanism 376 displacesportions of the cores 30 positioned on the fingers 100, 102 and 104. Inits home position, the cutting disk 374 is retracted so that the tissuepaper supply can pass freely thereby.

The edge of the sheet 320 facing the belt 10 is clamped by a pair of armmechanisms 380. Each arm mechanism 380 includes an arm 382 operativelyconnected to a rodless cylinder 386. The arm mechanisms 380 areslideably mounted to a pair of rails 390, the rails 390 being mounted toa mounting table 391 by a plurality of guides 392. The displacement ofthe arms 382 is sensed by the limit switches 394. A clamp mechanism 396(FIG. 13), which is structurally equivalent to the clamp mechanism 356,is located at the end of each arm 382. Each clamp mechanism 396 includesa clamp 398, which clamp 398 can be biased into an open position or aclosed position by an air cylinder 400. In the preferred embodiment, thearms 382 are positioned above the cut sheet 320, and when the arms 382are in their home position, the long edge of the sheet 320, adjacent thebelt 10, can be engaged and clamped by the clamp mechanisms 396. Acharging device, such as a corotron 402, is disposed proximate a forwardportion of the mounting table 391 so that the arms 382 pass thereunderas they are displaced from their home position into the hollow cavity323.

Referring to FIGS. 11-13 and 8B-8C, the preferred form of operation ofthe tissue paper feed assembly 322 is explained in further detail.Referring specifically to FIGS. 8B-8C, it should be understood that theprocess of tissue paper insertion is performed just after latch 160 isreleased and prior to the moment that the turret 108 is rotated. Whenusing the processes of FIGS. 8B and 8C conjunctively, optimum operationcan be achieved by coordinating the respective steps of FIGS. 8B and 8Cso that the sheet 320 can be inserted into the hollow cavity 323 soonafter latch 160 has been released. That is, the sheet 320 shouldpreferably be engaged by the clamps 398 concurrent with the hollowcavity 323 being formed.

In the case of initial startup for the process of FIG. 8C, the functionof the dancer roller mechanism can be achieved by manually pulling downa length of tissue paper. The tissue paper can then be threaded throughthe roller mechanism 336 so that the leading edge of the tissue papersupply is positioned along the line across which the cutting disk 374 istraversed. As will be recognized from the discussion below, afterinitial startup, all of the steps of FIG. 8C can be performedautomatically.

To deliver the leading edge of the tissue paper supply to the edge ofthe baffle 335, the roller 338 is displaced toward the edge of thebaffle 335 by the air cylinder 340. Since the one-way clutch remainslocked as the roller 338 is being displaced toward the edge of thebaffle 335, the tissue paper slides with the roller 338. As the aircylinder 340 is retracted, the one-way clutch unlocks so that the roller338 rolls back freely over the tissue paper without substantiallydisplacing the tissue paper. Upon delivering the leading edge of thetissue paper to the edge of the baffle 335, the leading edge is engagedand clamped by the clamps 358, and the carriage 348 is driven from thepoint proximate the second finger 102 to the point proximate the thirdfinger 104.

As the carriage 348 is driven forward, the upper surface of the supportplate 354 provides support for the tissue paper. Once the leading edgeof the tissue paper has been fully extended by the carriage 348, thesaddle 368 is extended from its home position, and then retracted, sothat the sheet of tissue paper 320 is formed by the cutting action ofthe cutting disk 374. During the extension of the saddle 368, thedisplacement mechanism 376 operatively contacts the back of the cores 30positioned on the fingers 100, 102 and 104 so that the wrapped beltproduct can be discharged into the receiving bin 22.

Subsequent to cutting the sheet 320, the long edge of the sheet 320 isclamped by the clamps 398, and the arms 382 are urged toward the cavity323 of belt 10 so that the sheet 320 passes under the corotron 402. Asthe sheet 320 is passed through the corotron 402, it is charged so thatthe sheet 320 adheres to an inner surface of the belt 10, as describedbelow. After the arms 382 are extended into the cavity, the sheet 320 isreleased from the grip of the clamps 398. The arms 382 are thenretracted to their home position in anticipation of receiving anothersheet 320.

Referring to FIGS. 14A-14C, an example of the entraining of the sheet320 with belt 10 is shown. Once the sheet 320 is released from theclamps 398 of arms 380, it falls, as a result of gravitational force,onto a lower inner surface 404 of belt 10. When the fingers 100 and 102are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction about axis 118, the lowerinner surface 404, as well as an upper inner surface 406, are drawntoward the fingers 100 and 102. Due to static and/or frictional forcesbetween the sheet 320 and the lower inner surface 404, the movement ofthe sheet 320 follows the movement of the lower inner surface 404. Inparticular, continued rotation of fingers 100 and 102 causes the sheet320 to be dragged toward, and eventually wrapped around the fingers 100and 102. As best illustrated in FIG. 14C, as the sheet 320 is wrappedabout the fingers 100 and 102, it becomes sandwiched between the innersurfaces 404 and 406 of the belt 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for wrapping a precut sheet with anendless flexible member having opposed surfaces in which the endlessflexible member is positioned adjacent said apparatus and is selectivelydisposed in one of an unwrapped position and a wrapped position so thatthe precut sheet can be positioned on a portion of the endless flexiblemember while the endless flexible member is in the unwrapped position,comprising:a guide path extending from a remote location, spaced fromthe endless flexible member in the unwrapped position, to a locationdisposed adjacent the endless flexible member in the unwrapped position;means for supporting the endless flexible member with the opposedsurfaces being spaced from each other; means, movably coupled with saidguide path, for receiving and holding the precut sheet, said receivingand holding means moving relative to said guide path and including apair of arms for releasably clamping the precut sheet; means for movingsaid receiving and holding means adjacent the endless flexible member inthe unwrapped position so that said pair of arms and the precut sheetare superposed relative to the portion of the endless flexible memberand between the opposed surfaces; means for releasing the precut sheetfrom said pair of arms so that the precut sheet is positioned on theportion of the endless flexible member and between the opposed surfaces;and means for wrapping the endless flexible member about itself with theprecut sheet interposed between the opposed surfaces of the endlessflexible member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the endlessflexible member is a photoreceptive belt.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising:means for transporting a length of separatormaterial; means for supplying the length of separator material, saidsupplying means being adapted to deliver a free edge of the separatormaterial to a location adjacent said transporting means; and means forcutting the separator material along an edge opposing the free edge todefine the precut sheet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprisingmeans for reciprocating said cutting means transverse to the length ofthe separator material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein saidtransporting means comprises:a carriage for transporting the length ofseparator material in a direction substantially parallel to a long axisof the flexible member; and means for engaging and clamping the freeedge of the separator material, said engaging and clamping means beingcoupled with said carriage.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, furthercomprising means for selectively biasing said engaging and clampingmeans into one of an open position and a closed position.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 5, further comprising automatic drive means fordriving said carriage from a location adjacent one end of the endlessflexible member in the unwrapped position to a location adjacent theother end of the flexible member in the unwrapped position.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising means, mounted to portions ofsaid arms, for engaging and clamping an edge of the precut sheet.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein said engaging and clamping means includesmeans for selectively biasing said engaging and clamping means into oneof an open position and a closed position.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,in which the precut sheet possesses a charge, further comprising means,positioned in said guide path, for substantially neutralizing the chargeof the precut sheet as it is passed therethrough.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein said neutralizing means comprises a corotron.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the precut sheet comprises a sheet oftissue paper.